Liberals count Dem votes for public option

House liberals, challenged by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to prove they can pass their preferred public option, are surveying the rest of the Democratic caucus Wednesday.

In doing so, they may settle the key question facing House Democrats — whether there are enough votes within the Democratic caucus to pass any sort of plan.

The “whip count,” started last night, seeks to prove that there are a majority 218 votes in the House for what liberals call a “robust public option.” Robust generally means that providers’ compensation would be tied to Medicare rates.